Portland Coffee Hangouts

April 26, 2015- Revisiting Crema

Posted on May 3, 2015 by howpamfam

Crema is a popular Kerns bakery, which we haven’t had a chance to return to in three years. And except for its increased popularity, its basics remain the same: an impressive counter and display of great looking pastries, and chairs/tables reminiscent of an institutional dining hall. Like most of the bakeries we’ve visited, homey hang-out amenities are missing, without hurting their popularity. Huddled around a table, today’s discussion hit on a series of diverse topics: E’s having lost his suitcase and laptop at the beginning of a Seattle conference where he was a speaker, nevertheless pulling off a well received session, and just now being informed that his belongings were found in another room of the hotel; our frustration that Sen. Wyden and Rep. Blumenauer support fast tracking the Trans-Pacific Partnership; M’s report on a great Dog Mountain hike, and D and he searching an I-phone app to ID a wildflower that was new to M; and E’s enthusiasm over two unorthodox new building designs by developer Kevin Cavanaugh: The Zipper under construction on NE Sandy/28th, and a soon-to-be-built multi-story project that resembles a barbell for inner SE. 2728 SE Ankeny http://www.cremabakery.com

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April 5, 2015: Case Study Coffee/Alberta

Posted on April 6, 2015 by howpamfam

Two stalwarts on this chilly early Easter morning – who happen to have been raised Jewish – started out early to visit Case Studies’ relatively new shop on Alberta. And we’re glad to report that CS should be proud of how they’ve transformed a relatively small space with a loft – (with the exception of plastic chairs being squeezed very closely together) – into a cozy space that is very welcoming for hanging out. They have created another iconic sculpted lighting structure for this outlet, have great lighting plus a glassed garage door that opens in warm weather, built a craftsmanlike counter, taken advantage of the sturdy stairway to the loft, and have a lively art display. Particularly interesting was how quickly the shop changed from being tranquil at 8, to buzzing with activity by 8:45; the public obviously likes what CS has created here.

Discussion topics today included this year’s Passover seders and updates on friends who attended each; navigating the Kaiser health system to find doctors who are open to alternative medicine options; and upcoming political fights that could further endanger the environment.

1422 NE Alberta casestudycoffee.com

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March 29, 2015: Revisiting Floyd’s Coffee/NW

Posted on April 6, 2015 by howpamfam

Visiting Floyd’s/NW after three years – and many coffee shops in between – made the four of us (plus Sidney,) really appreciate how special it is in terms of seating options and visuals. Seating-wise one can sit on soft couches on a raised platform, or hard chairs at one long table or smaller ones, or on benches in booths, or fold-up chairs at their outdoor patio. Meanwhile, patrons can easily look at the outdoor patio, a couple of brick walls, art on the walls, tile or wooden floors, the raised platform and adjoining telephone booth area, or the shining counter. The bottom line, we appeciated it so much that we moved Floyd’s NW shop into our top sixteen of favorite coffee shop hang outs.

Discussion-wise, our topics this morning included: some progressives we know with whom we are aligned on 95% of the social/political/economic issues, but who become fanatical and difficult to have civil conversations with on topics like flouridated water, and affordable housing in their neighborhoods; the strategies that co-housing developments are working on to build community; and the groups one can legally discriminate against because they are not part of a protected class – in terms of selling your house, for example – like political affiliation.

118 NW Couch Floydscoffee.com

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March 22, 2015: Revisiting Cup Coffee Co.

Posted on April 6, 2015 by howpamfam

It’s been some 20 months since first visiting Cup Coffee and we were impressed with how Cup had successfully transitioned into its role as a community institution. We liked the way the community just naturally seem to gather there, no doubt encouraged by the friendliness of the unflappable barista, but also by the various settings in which patrons can avail themselves of. Last time we were here we stayed on an outside porch, this time downstairs in a living/gameroom type space; two different experiences, but each rewarding. Next time we’ll no doubt hang around the fireplace.

Topics discussed by today’s foursome included: D’s recommendation for both The Invisible Hand playing at Artists Repertory Theater, and the unorthodox multimedia art on display in ART’s Geezer Gallery; the fact that J’s 19 year-old daughter Michelle, a PCC freshwoman, has her art – combining traffic lenses with watercolors – on display at three different locations; and the unique art that M’s 35 year-old son Josh is producing using Polaroid film. M then somehow segued back to the ART play about a banker kidnapped in the Middle East, to his own dangerous time in 1973 when he was picked up by the Argentina police for interrogation. J closed our session with his recommendation for Radio Lab’s show on the evolutionary changes that the Galapagos Islands have gone through, and the global warming challenges they will face.

7540 N. Interstate cupcoffeco.com

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March 15, 2015: POA Cafe

Posted on March 20, 2015 by howpamfam

Daylight Savings Time began on this wet Sunday morning, and we three bicyclists decided to take the long way to the POA Cafe. Since we already had taken out & put on our waterproof gear – which hadn’t been used much this unseasonably dry, warm winter – we wanted to make it worth our toil so we added on another 3 miles by taking in the Blandena, Michigan, and Rosa Parks bikepaths before backtracking to N. Williams for an introduction to POA.

The recently opened POA is one of those full service outlets that serve alcohol as well as early morning pastries, but is primarily a restaurant catering to younger parents, as they have a great, well-used kids area. And thus while POA does want parents with young kids to hang out, many of the other homey elements we appreciate – books and/or periodicals for browsing, games, artwork, a variety of seating options, et al. – aren’t there.

Nevertheless, we enjoyed an hour-long lively discussion, during which the rain t0 stopped allowing us to bike home in dry weather. With M seeing friends from his congregation whose kickstarter campaign brought in more than 10 times their goal – the product being an innovative, pressurized growler – (where else but Portland,) we reflected on how out of touch we, and most of our generation, were with such initiatives; we moved on to our disappointment with the City’s recent affordable housing track record, our admiration for the late Gretchen Kafoury who was an amazing champion, how a select few developers were striving to build innovative infill projects that fit in with the surrounding area, and our pessimism over what will result on the MLK/Alberta site that PDC owns. 4025 N. Williams http://www.poacafe.com

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March 8, 2015: Revisiting World Cup Coffee

Posted on March 9, 2015 by howpamfam

Our hats are off to the NW World Cup – their other outlet is in Powell’s – for adding so many homey touches to this space. Even with predominantly hard chairs, the plate glass windows, mixture of tables and stools along the windows, soft chairs around the television, and reading material made the shop a rendez-vous spot for friends, as well as a draw for individuals reading the Sunday NY Times.

Our discussion started with whether H’s granddaughter who just spent 11 months in Latin America, will remember much, if any of it; M then told the story of how when he was 12-ish, upon seeing a certain wallpaper pattaren, he described to his mother the layout of a room and stairway, who then exclaimed he was describing their apartment in Chicago when he was 6 months old; H then told his experience of reliving, (possibly making up,) his mother’s delivery of him via rebirthing; which somehow led to the relating of various personal experiences with hallucinogenics in the wilderness; which then led to tales about the Eagle Cap wilderness and particular cabins.

1740 NW Glisan http://www.worldcupcoffee.com

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March 1, 2015: Revisiting Sound Grounds

Posted on March 9, 2015 by howpamfam

Upon entering the three of us were quickly reminded that Sound Grounds is primarily about community engagement and gatherings. Mondays are for psychic meetings, on Wednesdays there are clowns, and their chalkboard urged patrons to advocate against Monsanto’s latest effort.

Additionally, the shop has a kids area, games to play, literature to read, (this month) luscious mixed-media artwork on the walls to appreciate, and a soft couch with a reading light. For our hangout purposes, we found Sound Grounds an easy place to talk for an extended period of time.

Our topics covered the recent plays we’ve each appreciated at Milagro, Portland Playhouse and Artists Reportory Theaters; the current Trailblazers we admire, and how they remind us of the special person Jerome Kersey was; an NPR story on the difficult time Korean adoptees were having; and our admiration for what Nigel Jacquis at Willamette Week has been able to accomplish, popping holes in the stories and hubris of several celebrated office holders. 3701 SE Belmont https://www.facebook.com/soundgroundscafe

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Feb. 15, 2015: Stark Street Station

Posted on March 9, 2015 by howpamfam

On a brisk clear morning, four riders took the stimulating scenic route – via the top of Mt. Tabor Park – to arrive at today’s destination.

Stark Street Station, which sits in a portion of a former fire station, is more of a convenience restaurant than coffee shop. It has refrigerated cases with quiches and salads, as well as the capability to make soup and sandwiches. Thus, while they don’t mind having patrons hang out while it is slow, and the building’s interesting history is well presented on its walls, seating options are limited and they don’t have the array of homey touches we see in top notch hangouts.

Government disappointments was our primary topic this morning. Gov. Kitzhaber’s troubles started our discussion – we have little sympathy for Cylvia Hayes – then moved onto the assistant fire chief who was reprimanded for informing an adult business there wouldn’t be any fire marshalls visiting them on a night that they planned to exceed their capacity; and then to the female prison guard in Hillsboro who had sex with a dangerous prisoner 13 times. With 3 of the 4 of us having had government careers, we were mightily disappointed. 6049 SE Stark https://www.facebook.com/StarkStreetStation

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St. Honore Boulangerie, NW- Revisited Feb. 1, 2015

Posted on February 15, 2015 by howpamfam

On our original visit to the NW St. Honore, with five riders a couple of years ago, the bakery was crowded and feeling relaxed for an extended conversation was a challenge. This Sunday it was only 2/3rds full, and easier for the two of us to enjoy our conversation – much of it devoted to polyamorous and spin-off experimental relationships about which we were learning.

We liked this morning’s relaxed, urbane vibe, aided by lots of windows and the opportunity to watch bakers carry out their work. Still, we missed some of the homey amenities – a variety of seating options, rotating art, games, for example – that communicate “we hope you’ll feel comfortable enough to stay for a while.” 2335 NW Thurman http://www.sainthonorebakery.com

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Space Monkey Coffee- Jan.25, 2015

Posted on February 15, 2015 by howpamfam

Five and a half, (Sidney’s 2+ yrs. old), of us rode cross town this morning – to the Mt. Scott Community Center area – to learn about the Space Monkey. Unfortunately for the shop’s owners, their glassed front door had been broken in for a robbery the night before.

There’s a lot crammed into the Monkey’s cozy space, including a small kids’ area of which Sidney took advantage, varied seating options, art on the walls, and games to play. With tasty drinks and treats, it was easy to become involved in an extended conversation.

Our conversation was free-flowing and covered our amateurish analysis of the robbery, state politics, local efforts to improve Rigler School, and the changing nature of newspapers and how G’s son in Denver can do his web-site/newspaper job remotely 3 out of 4 weeks. 5511 SE 72nd https://www.facebook.com/pages/Space-Monkey-Coffee/142849049111847